Secondary school

City of London Academy (Southwark)

  • Academy Sponsor Led
  • ages 11–19
  • Mixed
  • Southwark
  • SE1 5LA
  • Sixth form

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 642 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 20%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 13%13%2016/17: top 10%10% · 2016/172017/18: top 19%2018/19: top 58%2021/22: top 34%2022/23: top 26%2023/24: top 19%2024/25: top 20%No exams

A-level results

#160 of 438 London sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against London

Attainment 852.9 · London 50.17/10 Above+16.6 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths57.8% · London 51.8%7/10 Above+10.7 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score4.92 · London 4.567/10 Above+12.7 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.48 · London +0.327/10 Above+56.3 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry37.63 · London 34.78/10 Above+32.6 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 57.4 · 177 pupils · London 522016/17: 56.5 · 190 pupils · London 49.32017/18: 52.8 · 183 pupils · London 492018/19: 44.7 · 234 pupils · London 49.52021/22: 51.8 · 231 pupils · London 52.82022/23: 51.1 · 234 pupils · London 50.552023/24: 53.4 · 227 pupils · London 50.62024/25: 52.9 · 230 pupils · London 50.1557.444.7No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 55% · 190 pupils · London 48%2017/18: 54% · 183 pupils · London 48%2018/19: 36% · 234 pupils · London 48%2021/22: 59% · 231 pupils · London 58%2022/23: 57% · 234 pupils · London 53.5%2023/24: 62.6% · 227 pupils · London 55.5%2024/25: 57.8% · 230 pupils · London 51.8%62.6%36%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 27.16 · 143 pupils · London 29.292016/17: 28.67 · 132 pupils · London 30.582017/18: 30.34 · 132 pupils · London 30.892018/19: 29.52 · 152 pupils · London 31.532021/22: 35.93 · 140 pupils · London 36.842022/23: 32.68 · 176 pupils · London 33.82023/24: 36.83 · 153 pupils · London 33.672024/25: 37.63 · 154 pupils · London 34.737.6327.16No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in92.8%
207 of 223 who put it first2014 · 49.4%2026 · 92.8%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st223207
2nd11610
3rd1249

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2005–2026

  • InclusionStrong
  • AchievementStrong
  • Curriculum and teachingStrong
  • Attendance and behaviourStrong
  • Leadership and governanceStrong
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected
  • Post-16 provisionStrong
  • SafeguardingMet
  1. 2005Satisfactory
  2. 2009Satisfactory
  3. 2011Good
  4. 2016Ungraded visit
  5. 2021Good
  6. 2026Lowest Expected

2 points to improve

Read what Ofsted said (5)

From Ofsted report, inspected Feb 2026

Strengths

  • “Pupils rise to the school's high expectations.”
  • “They behave very positively, attend regularly and achieve consistently highly across the curriculum.”
  • “Pupils' academic achievements, including in their end of Year 11 and sixth-form examinations, is something to celebrate.”

To improve

  • “Leaders should ensure that there are exceptionally high standards across all subjects and phases.”
  • “This should include work to embed the revised approach for those few pupils new to the school who require phonics teaching to build up their reading fluency.”

Ofsted inspection report extracts, Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,589
Free school meals (past 6 years)55.5%
First language not English20.2%
SEN support15.6%
EHC plan2.0%
Absence (sessions missed)7.9%
Persistently absent pupils21.8%

Girls 48.2%Boys 51.8%

132.4% full · 1,200 places · 401 in sixth form

Parent View

As at 6 Apr 2026 · 30 responses (1.9% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school70% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school76.7% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved73.3% agree
  • Has your child been bullied at this school?20% yes
  • When the bullying took place the school dealt with it quickly and effectively · asked only of the 20% who said Yes above33.3% agree
  • Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?23.3% yes
  • The school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 23.3% who said Yes above28.6% agree
  • The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know63.3% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 13.3% had no concerns to raise61.5% agree
  • When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart60% agree
  • The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well63.3% agree
  • Would you recommend this school to another parent?66.7% yes
  • Your overall view of the school69% positive

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.0
Pupils per adult11.6
  • Classroom teachers 79.7
  • Leadership 13.8
  • Teaching assistants 35.1
  • Other support 42.7

Teachers 93.5 FTE · Whole workforce 171.3 · 182 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£10,704
Spend per pupil£10,533
Staff spend per pupil£8,039
Reserve per pupil£2,235
  • +£3,531,000revenue reserve
  • +£270,000in-year balance

Grants £10,133 · self-generated £571 · premises £682 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: CITY OF LONDON ACADEMIES TRUST (11 academies) · trust reserve £10,088,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

227 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained92.5%
  • Education89%
  • Apprenticeship2.6%
  • Employment0.9%
  • Not sustained3.1%
  • Unknown4.4%

After sixth form (16–18)

183 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained83.1%
  • Education71%
  • Higher education66.7%
  • Apprenticeship1.1%
  • Employment10.9%
  • Not sustained8.2%
  • Unknown8.7%